One way you can work with the planets is to build an altar that celebrates their energies. What is an altar, exactly? It’s a place to honor, well, anything — from the planets to the seasons to your own inner world. It could be a table crowded with trinkets or a candle on a bookshelf. What matters most is that its components resonate with you.
Altars are known as sites of psychological healing and personal restoration. The power of these intentionally designed areas emerges, in part, through the act of making them. It’s this process that sets what’s sacred about them into motion. While every altar is a tribute, it’s also a reflection of the unique beauty, worthiness, and spiritual abundance of its creator.
Below, you’ll find altar suggestions that pay homage to the main planets and points in our solar system. Most of the colors, flowers, plants, herbs, spices, metals, minerals, foods, and symbols included here come from traditional texts by medieval and Renaissance astrologers such as Al-Biruni, Cornelius Agrippa, and William Lilly.
Building an altar
When you’re ready to build an altar, start with a clear and clean space (a desk, countertop, shelf, or table will do just fine). Then select one or more items related to the planet you’d like to work with, and arrange them in a manner that pleases you, with a candle front and center. The only rule to remember: There is no way to do this wrong. So trust your instincts — and have fun.
Altars for the Sun
Select any of the following items to honor the Sun — the planet of vitality, creativity, and confidence — or to pay homage to the sign that the Sun rules (Leo).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Yellow or gold
Flowers and plants
Bright yellow, orange, and/or red flowers such as sunflowers, calendula, or marigolds, or any flowers/branches from citrus trees
Herbs and spices
Saffron, St. John’s wort, chamomile, bay leaves, and/or eyebright
Stones and metals
Gold, amber, citrine, chrysolite, tiger’s eye, and/or other yellow, orange, or red stones
Incense
Frankincense, amber, musk, saffron, lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud), and/or cinnamon
Foods
Citrus fruits, ginger, turmeric, and/or foods that taste both sweet and sour
Symbols
Lions, cats, figures associated with the Sun, anything that represents royalty to you, and/or anything regal, such as crowns, thrones, or shiny, opulent objects
Altars for the Moon
Select any of the following items to honor the Moon — the planet of nurturance, emotions, and intuition — or to pay homage to the sign that the Moon rules (Cancer).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
White, silver, or luminescent
Flowers and plants
Irises, lilies, poppies, jasmine, moonflowers, lotuses, and/or willow
Herbs and spices
Mugwort, motherwort, and/or any herbs that grow in shady, cool places or that help to regulate fluids and elimination in the body
Stones and metals
Silver, selenite, pearls, and/or any crystal that is white or luminous
Incense
Jasmine, poppy, myrrh, and/or camphor
Foods
Melon, cucumber, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, grapes, and/or poppy seeds
Symbols
Seashells, pearls, beach glass, sea salt, mirrors, crystal balls, bowls of water, and/or anything that evokes caregiving or nurturance
Altars for Mercury
Select any of the following items to honor Mercury — the planet of communication and learning — or to pay homage to the signs that Mercury rules (Gemini and Virgo).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Multicolored or patterned
Flowers and plants
Irises, lavender, and/or any multicolored flowers
Herbs and spices
Aniseed, mint, parsley, marjoram, dill, lungwort, vervain, rosemary, and/or mullein
Stones and metals
Quicksilver, topaz, fluorite, red marble, agate, and/or anything with mixed colors
Incense
Mastic, frankincense, cloves, cinquefoil, and/or any fragrant wood or fruit peel (e.g., citrus peel, cinnamon bark, nutmeg, etc.)
Foods
Walnuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and/or foods that combine salty, sweet, spicy, and/or sour flavors
Symbols
Books, pencils, pens, quills, tarot cards, maps, stamps, coins, phones, and/or anything that suggests communication, commerce, or trickster energy
Altars for Venus
Select any of the following items to honor Venus — the planet of love, beauty, pleasure, and connection — or to pay homage to the signs that Venus rules (Taurus and Libra).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Green or white
Flowers and plants
Roses, lilies, lily of the valley, jasmine, myrtle, lotuses, violets, daffodils, and/or any flower with luscious petals and a sweet smell
Herbs and spices
Thyme, coriander, vervain, lady’s mantle, and/or dried rose petals
Stones and metals
Copper, silver, lapis lazuli, sapphire, carnelian, coral, alabaster, emerald, green jasper, and/or rose quartz
Incense
Rose, violet, musk, amber, ladanum, and/or lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud)
Foods
Figs, plums, pears, pomegranates, apples, strawberries, apricots, peaches, raisins, almonds, millet, honey, and/or chocolate
Symbols
Beeswax, roses, mirrors, crowns, jewelry, five-pointed stars, and/or seashells
Altars for Mars
Select any of the following items to honor Mars — the planet of action, courage, and drive — or to pay homage to the signs that Mars rules (Aries and Scorpio).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Red or orange
Flowers and plants
Cacti, thistles, aloe, hellebore, wolfsbane, chestnuts in their spiny husks, red flowers, and/or any plants with thorns or sharp leaves
Herbs and spices
Nettle, cayenne, black pepper, cinnamon, mustard seed, and/or anything red or spicy
Stones and metals
Iron, ochre, bloodstone, lodestone, red jasper, vermilion, and/or ruby
Incense
Musk and/or any fragrant woods like cinnamon, cypress, palo santo, or lignum balsam (aka Arabian balsam)
Foods
Garlic, ginger, peppercorns, spicy peppers, leeks, onions, tamarind, and/or radish
Symbols
Matches, sparklers, scissors, ram’s horns, shark teeth, wolves, scorpions, and/or anything that symbolizes courage, strength, or self-renewal
Altars for Jupiter
Select any of the following items to honor Jupiter — the planet of wisdom, generosity, and expansion — or to pay homage to the signs that Jupiter rules (Sagittarius and Pisces).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Purple, aquamarine, blue, or sea green
Flowers and plants
Peonies, violets, juniper, any flowers that feel large and abundant to you, and/or branches or leaves from cedar, oak, poplar, or olive
Herbs and spices
Basil, mint, sage, oregano, nutmeg, cloves, and/or marjoram
Stones and metals
Tin, emerald, topaz, amethyst, lapis lazuli, sapphire, freestone, and/or marble
Incense
Cedar, basil, nutmeg, clove, lignum aloes (aka agarwood or oud), and/or storax
Foods
Cloves, nutmeg, olives, rhubarb, pomegranates, licorice, pineapple, and/or any large fruit
Symbols
Horseshoes, bows and arrows, dolphins, centaurs, symbols from wisdom traditions that are meaningful to you, and/or anything that inspires your faith and generosity
Altars for Saturn
Select any of the following items to honor Saturn — the planet of boundaries and commitment — or to pay homage to the signs that Saturn rules (Capricorn and Aquarius).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Black or gray
Flowers and plants
Mandrake, hellebore, willow, horsetail, poppies, knotgrass, and/or any dark flower
Herbs and spices
Cumin, hemp, and/or sage
Stones and metals
Lead, lodestone, lapis lazuli, black tourmaline, onyx, obsidian, and/or any rough, unpolished stone
Incense
Poppy, henbane, Solomon’s seal, tobacco, and/or myrrh
Foods
Hempseed, spinach, parsnips, dandelion greens, and/or bitter melon
Symbols
Animal bones, teeth, crocodiles, crows, toads, bats, clocks, hourglasses, antiques, and/or photos of elderly people
Altars for Uranus
Select any of the following items to honor Uranus, the planet of disruption and innovation.
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Sky blue or metallic
Flowers and plants
Birds of paradise, passionflowers, orchids, hydrangeas, starflowers, night sky petunias, irises, and/or happy alien flower
Herbs and spices
Star anise, ginkgo, valerian, skullcap, spikenard, unicorn root, and/or coffee beans
Stones and metals
Labradorite, rainbow obsidian, spirit quartz, angelite, and/or electricity conductors like aluminum or silver
Incense
Lemon, bergamot, and/or eucalyptus
Foods
Pop Rocks, freeze-dried “space foods,” kombucha, mousse, and/or anything with surprising or discordant flavors
Symbols
Clouds, batteries, light bulbs, kaleidoscopes, and/or anything that represents electricity, the sky, or revolutionary change
Altars for Neptune
Select any of the following items to honor Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions.
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Blue or seafoam green
Flowers and plants
Water lilies, lotuses, seaweed, and/or kelp
Herbs and spices
Hemp, blue lotus, mugwort, valerian, passionflower, and/or marshmallow root
Stones and metals
Pearls, coral, beach glass, beach stones, and/or seashells
Incense
Blue lotus, belladonna, and/or poppy
Foods
Seaweed, watermelon, sea grapes, and/or sea buckthorn
Symbols
Seawater, sea salt, seashells, beach glass, sand, driftwood, and/or anything that represents dreams, glamour, escape, or illusion to you
Altars for Pluto
Select any of the following items to honor Pluto, the planet of power, wealth, and the underworld.
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Black, deep purple, or crimson
Flowers and plants
Venus flytrap and/or any black, crimson, or dark purple flowers
Herbs and spices
Wormwood, burdock, black cumin, black caraway, black cohosh, black walnut, and/or fennel
Stones and metals
Onyx, black tourmaline, obsidian, and/or ruby
Incense
Patchouli, vetiver, dragon’s blood, and/or myrrh
Foods
Pomegranates, dark chocolate, black truffle, and/or mushrooms of all kinds
Symbols
Pomegranates, treasures found underground, phoenixes, nocturnal creatures, and/or anything that represents death, decay, or regeneration
Altars for Chiron
Select any of the following items to honor Chiron, the minor planet that represents what we are learning from and healing.
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Brown or green
Flowers and plants
Cornflowers, horse chestnut, and/or any plant hybrids
Herbs and spices
Yarrow, rosemary, vervain, echinacea, black bryony, and/or sage
Stones and metals
Amethyst, emerald, quartz, and/or charoite
Incense
Frankincense, sandalwood, and/or sage
Foods
Oats, grapes, any foraged fruits or vegetables, and/or dried meat
Symbols
Horseshoes, leather, healing herbs, centaurs, horses, bows and arrows, books, keys, and/or anything that evokes hands
Altars for the nodes of the Moon
Select any of the following items to honor the lunar nodes, the points that signify what we are striving for (in the case of the North Node) or releasing (in the case of the South Node).
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Black, red, or silver
Flowers and plants
Snapdragons, dragon arum, snake plants, cobra lilies, and/or any red or black flowers
Herbs and spices
Ginseng, devil’s claw, ashwagandha, maca, and/or ginkgo biloba (for the North Node); tamarind, tarragon, eucalyptus, senna, and/or ginger root (for the South Node)
Stones and metals
Silver, dragon stone, obsidian, onyx, and/or black tourmaline
Incense
Dragon’s blood and/or myrrh
Foods
Dragon fruit, snake fruit, and/or anything that stimulates your appetite (for the North Node); anything that helps you digest (for the South Node)
Symbols
Snakes, snakeskin, dragons, and/or ouroboros
Altars for Black Moon Lilith
Select any of the following items to honor Black Moon Lilith, the point that represents the wild, untamed, and defiant parts of us.
Altar cloth and/or candle colors
Black or scarlet
Flowers and plants
Hellebore, belladonna, black hyacinths, black petunias, queen of night tulips, and/or any dark or night-blooming flowers
Herbs and spices
Blue lotus, jezebel root, evening primrose, and/or black pepper
Stones and metals
Onyx, black diamond, and/or smoky quartz
Incense
Oud, patchouli, vetiver, black copal, storax, and/or myrrh
Foods
Pomegranates, figs, apples, and/or dark chocolate
Symbols
Serpents, owls, anything that represents the night to you, and/or anything that reminds you of your resistance, defiance, holy rage, or refusal
For additional astrological altar suggestions, visit the “This Week” section of the CHANI app.
Looking for more intel? Read your daily horoscope:
Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra
Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces
Then download the CHANI app on iOS or Android for additional horoscopes, meditations, affirmations, readings for the current Moon phase and sign, and more.
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